Protective apparatus for moving-picture booths.



w. J. KERR.

PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR MOVING PICTURE BOOTHS. APlLIGATIQN FILED APR.12, 1913.

1,091,662. Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

I inclosure or booth,

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

WILLIAM J. KEitR, 0F SMETHPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TOTHOMAS E. HUNGIVILLE, 0F SMETHPORT, PENNSYLVANIA..

PROTECTIVE APPARATUS FOR. MOVING-PICTURE BOOTHS.

Application filed April 12, 1913. Serial No. 7603811. 7 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. KERR, a citizen ofpthe United States,residing at Smethport, in the county of McKean and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProtective Apparatus for Moving'Picture Booths, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawing.

This invention relates to improvements in fire prevention and protectiveapparatus.

It is particularly adapted for use in connection with kinetoscopeswherein a highly inflammable film is operated in close proximity to anelectric are. I

In moving picture theaters the projecting apparatus is, as a rule,positioned in a small this booth being in the better forms ofconstruction made of sheet metal. It is well known that the inflammablefilm very often becomes ignited in some manner resulting in destructivefires. Even in cases where the flames are confined to the booth andprevented from igniting the structure of the theatre, the sight offlames spurting from the opening in the front of the booth through whichthe rays of light pass is very apt to excite an audience to a high pitchand cause a panic.

An object of my invention is to provide an apparatus which greatlyreduces the liability of the film becoming ignited and, in case a firedoes occur in a booth, to prevent the flames from extending without itsconfining walls.

Another object is to provide a communication between the reel holdingcases and a suitable exhaust duct leading without the building therebypreventing accumulation of gases within the reel cases and providing :1relief duct in case the reel becomes ignited thereby preventingexplosions.

Other objects will appear in the specification and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a partial vertical sectional view through amoving picture booth showing the kinetoscope and my improved apparatus.Fig. 2 is a front view showing a portion of my improved apparatusdetached from the walls of the booth.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the floor of a moving picturemachine booth.

2 is the front wall and 3 the roof of the booth.

A kinetoscope sumporting'table 4 is shown mounted upon legs 5, thenumeral 6 indicating the lantern which may be of any type, the detailsof the kinetoscope or projecting apparatus being unimportant as concernsmy invention. On the front portionof the table 4 is mounted the casing 7which contains the film feeding apparatus. A tube 8 extends a shortdistance and carries the projecting lens. A film or reel box 9 ismounted above the frame 7 and a. second box 10, similar to the box 9, ismounted beneath the table 4-. A reel containing the film isSpecification of Letters Patent. Patented I 1; 31, 1914 placed in one ofthe boxes and is fed through the casing 7 to the other box, these boxesbeing usually of sheet steel having tightly closed lids. Even though thegreatest of precaution is taken to protect the film, which isnecessarily manufactured of highly inflammable material, the frequencyof fire and explosions with such apparatus is well known.

In order to eliminate the danger of panics resulting from the sight offlamcsseen to issue from the pi'cture'booths, I have provided in thefront wall of my booth a metallic cone-11 making a tight joint with thetube 8 and extend it forward to the front wall of the booth. The angleof slope to the walls of the cone is sutliciently large to prevent anyinterference to the light rays. hen. as in the instance illustrated inthe drawings. double projection app..- ratus is used. I insert in theouter wall of the booth a large pan-shaped metallic casing 12 and in thebottom of this casing insert the two cones 11 which lead back to thelenses of the machines. By means of this apparatus I therefore am ableto make the front wall of the booth continuous and m broken. .\n v fireappearing in the booth is not visible from the front as is usually thecase where an aperture is cut through the front walls for the passage ofthe light rays. As a further protection from fire and explosions I haveformed a rectangular chamber 13 which may be secured by cars 14: in thefront wall of a booth connecting the top of the chamber by a large Ilue1-: either to a chimney or exhaust apparatus.

Flues 16 connect each of the reel containing cases with the mterior ofthe chamber 13 thereby providing a vent through which the gases or smokecan find a readyvexit.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a projecting paratus and its lens, of aninclosing booth, and a non-inflammable tube extending from an aperturein the booth to the lens of the apparatus.

2.. The combination with a projecting a'pparatus 'and' its lens, of aninclosing booth, and an opaque tube connecting an 'aperture in theboothwith the lens of the apparatus.

3. The combination with a projecting apparatus and its lens, of aninclosing booth,

and a non-infllmmable'opague tube connect- WILLIAM J. KERR. Witnesses F.D. GALLUP, HALLIE WALKER.

v M- i q I i Home: at this patent me, be qbtalneg for five cents each;by addressing the Oopmiuloner 0! Estate.

t Washington; D. 0 H

